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Hiker Discovers 1,500-Year-Old Golden Sword Sheath in Norway
🇳🇴 Norway /Culture & Society

Hiker Discovers 1,500-Year-Old Golden Sword Sheath in Norway

From Aftenposten · (12m ago) Norwegian Positive tone

Translated from Norwegian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A hiker discovered a 1,500-year-old golden sword sheath in a popular hiking area in Austrått, Norway.
  • The artifact, dating back to the Migration Period (500s AD), is richly decorated and represents a rare find in the region.
  • The sword sheath will be exhibited at the Archaeological Museum at the University of Stavanger.

A remarkable discovery has been made in Austrått, Norway, where a hiker stumbled upon a 1,500-year-old golden sword sheath. The find, unearthed in a well-frequented hiking area, has generated significant excitement among archaeologists and historians.

The artifact, identified as originating from the Migration Period (around the 500s AD), is intricately decorated and would have adorned the belt of a warrior. Such finds are exceptionally rare, with only 17 comparable items discovered across Northern Europe to date. This particular discovery marks the first of its kind in the Rogaland region, making it of immense historical and cultural value.

Jeg så en forhøyning i jorda under treet og pirket borti det med en pinne. Plutselig så jeg noe som glinset. Jeg forsto ikke helt hva jeg hadde funnet

— turgåerenThe hiker describes the moment of discovery, noticing a glinting object after poking a mound of earth with a stick.

The sword sheath will soon be displayed at the Archaeological Museum at the University of Stavanger, offering the public a chance to witness this extraordinary piece of Norwegian heritage. The discovery underscores the rich, often hidden, history embedded within Norway's landscapes.

Man blir helt tatt på senga når det kommer inn slike funn. Oddsen for å finne noe slikt er minimal

— Håkon ReiersenHåkon Reiersen, an archaeologist at the Archaeological Museum, expresses astonishment at the find and emphasizes the minimal odds of such a discovery.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Aftenposten in Norwegian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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